On Wednesday, 25th September 2024, Sr. Summayah Kenna, Head of Community Welfare at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, facilitated an insightful information session for the social work team at Tusla’s Child and Family Agency. The workshop, which took place during a Team Development Day, focused on enhancing the team’s understanding of the cultural and religious beliefs and practices in Islam.
The Tusla social work team specializes in working with Separated Children Seeking Asylum, many of whom arrive in Ireland without their families. With children from diverse nationalities currently in their care—including those from Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Ukraine—this session was designed to equip the team with the knowledge and cultural sensitivity necessary to provide more tailored and empathetic care. The team also supports children and young people from many other parts of the world, adding to the importance of this training.
Sr Summayah's workshop covered key aspects of Islamic faith, daily practices, and cultural norms, offering the team practical tools to apply in their day-to-day interactions with the children and young people they work with. The session emphasized the importance of religious and cultural understanding in building trust, creating a supportive environment, and ensuring that each child feels respected and valued during their time in care.
This training aligns with Tusla’s ongoing commitment to providing culturally responsive care, allowing the team to better meet the needs of a diverse and vulnerable group of children. By fostering greater awareness and empathy, the workshop will help ensure that the young people in Tusla’s care feel not only safe but also understood.
Feedback for the day: I wanted to thank you so much for yesterday, it was fantastic...It completely exceeded our expectations. You have such a wonderful way of presenting that captures an audience and encourages them to engage, it really was a highlight of the day!
